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Win a free holiday in Dorset with Dream Cottages

It’s competition time! If you are looking to brighten up your new year and relieve the post christmas blues then we have the perfect opportunity. We are offering a free three night break in one of our properties from February 3rd – February 6th 2012. This prize is worth £300 and all you have to do to win it is either “Like” our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter between now and January 3rd 2012.

To “Like” our Facebook page go to: http://www.facebook.com/DreamCottagesDorset and click the “Like” button.

To follow us on Twitter, go to: http://www.twitter.com/DreamCottages and click “Follow”.

The winner will be drawn at random from a list of our Facebook fans and Twitter followers in January 2012 and announced on our website, Facebook page and Twitter stream. If you are already following us then you will automatically be entered into the draw as well.

This prize is worth over £300 and the lucky winner gets to stay in Ocean Wave apartment in Weymouth which has a prime seafront location with wonderful gardens overlooking the sea. This is a two bedroom apartment which sleeps up to four guests in total and the winner is entitled to bring them along for a free holiday as well.

Full competition terms and conditions will be published in due course.

Ocean Wave apartment in Weymouth, Dorset

Ten years of the Jurassic Coast

10 years of the Jurassic CoastIn December 2001 the Jurassic Coast was formally designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, placing it alongside other impressive places such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon. This unique coastline is now celebrating ten years of this prestigious designation which has had a positive impact in terms of conservation, tourism and educating people about this unique area of Dorset and Devon.

Special anniversary events are planned for the 13th and 14th of December to mark the anniversary, including a series of free guided walks free entry into Jurassic Coast museums including Lyme Regis, Bridport, Portland, Wareham and Swanage in Dorset, and Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Honiton in Devon.

For more information please visit the official Jurassic Coast website: http://www.jurassiccoast.com/270/jurassic-news-36/latest-news-162/the-jurassic-coast-marks-its-tenth-birthday-with-a-host-of-free-events-956.html

Travel advice for the Olympic Sailing Events in Weymouth 2012

From 29th July until the 11th August 2012, Weymouth and Portland will host the olympic sailing events at the WPNSA (Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy). There will be a significant impact in terms of transport and travel during this period so we have put together the following information to help visitors plan their journeys effectively during this period.

Spectator Transport

Spectators will be encouraged to use temporary park-and-ride sites as parking in the town centre will be restricted. Buses and coaches will shuttle spectators from these sites into Weymouth town centre. The train companies operating in and out of Weymouth will be increasing capacity and ensuring spectators will have easy access to the Esplanade and Nothe Gardens from the station. Discussions are also underway to provide additional capacity on local bus services.

Residents and visitors staying in the area will be encouraged to use public transport, walk or cycle when attending events to help reduce congestion.

Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network (ORN and PRN)

The ORN and PRN are networks of roads linking all the competition and key non-competition venues for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Temporary changes along the ORN and PRN include stopping and waiting restrictions along the A354. These restrictions may reduce the number of hours that kerbside access is permitted and have an impact on normal delivery and collection operations in some locations.

The roads that form the ORN and PRN in Weymouth and Portland will remain open to all road users for the duration of the Games. The core route will be used by Games vehicles, and the alternative route will only be used if an issue arises on the core route. (See below)

Weymouth and Portland Olympic Route Network

To minimise disruption, work is underway to ensure that non essential roadworks do not take place.

For further details on the proposed ORN and PRN measures in Weymouth and Portland, visit london2012.com/orn

Affected Areas in the Weymouth and Portland area

There will be transport ‘hotspots’ in Weymouth and Portland that will be very busy during the Games. Residents and visitors are being advised, where possible, to avoid these areas on event days, particularly during the traditional morning and evening peaks.

Sailing events are scheduled to finish at 6pm when the transport system is expected to be much busier. Planned evening cultural events and entertainment may vary visitors’ departure times from the spectator venues and transport could be busier throughout the evening.

Christmas and New Year Holidays in Dorset

Although Dorset is generally seen as a summer destination for travellers who want to soak up the sun on the magnificent coastlines, pretty rural villages and traditional seaside towns, it is also a great place to stay for christmas and new year breaks. A christmas cottage in dorset can be a chance for couple to spend a romantic break away or maybe gives the family a chance to unwind in a home from home setting. Whatever your plans or intentions we have a variety of properties suitable for spending christmas and new year in Dorset. You may be looking to spend a quiet xmas away but if not then there are a variety of festive events planned in the county. A few of them have been listed below:

2nd December – Beaminster Christmas Festival

Father Christmas will be leading the exciting Parade from Beaminster Fire Station at 5.45pm through the town to The Square. There will be carols around the Christmas Tree with the Phoenix Brass Band, and the town will celebrate the Lighting of the Tree at 7pm. Further attractions will be the Hog Roast, Father Christmas Grotto ( from 6.15pm) and lots and lots of stalls!

9th December – Christmas Market, Lyme Regis

Quality handmade gifts: wood pottery, glass, jewellery, paintings, photos, prints, metalwork. Friday 5pm – 9pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm

16th December – The Magic of Christmas Show, Bridport

Billed as an alternative to a traditional pantomime, The Magic of Christmas show promises great family entertainment. Guaranteed fun and laughter abound as international magician, Damian Jay, heads up a wonderful cast and creates the most fun you will ever have in a festive show.

22nd December – Winter Solstice at Studland

Experience the sunrise on the shortest day of the year at Old Harry Rocks. Finish with a cooked breakfast at Knoll Beach Cafe. Please bring torches. BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Adults £10, children £6

We are offering discounts on selected holiday cottages booked for a week between 21st December 2011 and 4th January 2012. See below:

Christmas and new year holiday cottages in Dorset

Buying a property in Weymouth in time for the Olympics

Weymouth continues to attract national press attention because of the olympic sailing events. For years, the town has had an unfair reputation as the ‘ugly duckling’ of the south coast because it pales in comparison to attractive nearby resorts such as Poole to the east and Dartmouth to the west. Weymouth benefits from one of the most impressive esplanades in the country at 2 miles long and a traditional seaside ambience that attracts large numbers of visitors each year – many of which come back regularly. The town has a unique charm and the arrival of the Olympics, we hope, will do much to bolster the popularity of Weymouth not just for the time of the olympics but in the long term as well.

The following article on the Daily Telegraph website looks at the increased interest in Weymouth’s property market – in particular, buying property in time for the Olympics.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertymarket/8768271/Buy-in-Weymouth-in-time-for-the-Olympics.html

Dream Cottages on Facebook and Twitter

You may already be aware of our presence on the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. However, if you aren’t or you’re wondering what all the fuss is about then let me introduce each one here.

Our Facebook page is located at: http://www.facebook.com/DreamCottagesDorset. It is a great way of keeping in touch with up-to-the minute information about Dream Cottages. We will often post last minute special offers on the site as well as invite people to give their opinion or expertise (sometimes serious, other times not so serious!). Recently, we have been posting high resolution images relating to a wide range of properties we have on offer. Check it out and give us a ‘Like’ today.

Our Facebook page is directly linked to our Twitter account which means that posts we make on Facebook are also echoed on Twitter. However, I would recommend you follow our Twitter presence if you are more interested in finding out what is happening in Dorset as we often post links to upcoming events and festivals which you might like to visit while staying in one of our holiday cottages.

The beauty of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter is that we can often post up to the date information and communicate very quickly with you the customer. We are happy to deal with booking enquiries, post information on local travel updates, deal with feedback on your holiday or anything else related to our holiday properties. We have very friendly staff who are always on hand to help.

Renting a holiday cottage this Autumn in Dorset

Autumn in Portland, DorsetNow that summer has reached its peak, thoughts are turning to Autumn and the changing of the seasons. I know that where I live, the first signs of Autumn are starting to creep through in the early morning as it’s definitely getting a little chillier and the bird song is more hushed and less prominent. It won’t be long before the trees begin to drop their leaves and turn that lovely golden brown colour that is so distinctive of the changing season.

Walking holidays

Autumn in Dorset is a sight to behold and there are plenty of holiday cottages or coastal cottages that are suitable for week long breaks or short breaks. If you are interested in walking as a pursuit then you may want to consider Osmington near Weymouth as a base for your holiday. Osmington is a picturesque Dorset village with pretty lanes leading to open countryside which is perfect for a more leisurely stroll. Or if you are a keen walker then you can pick up the coastal path which is part of the World heritage site Jurassic coast and takes you to the impressive geological wonders of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove just a few miles. Whether you are looking for a traditional thatched cottage holiday or more luxurious modern accommodation then we have plenty to suit your tastes. You can check out the choice of properties here:

Holiday Cottages in Osmington near Weymouth

Autumn Events in Dorset

If you are looking for something a bit different this autumn then the following events are taking place in September around the area:

The Dorset County Show
3rd – 4th September, The Dorchester Showground, Nr Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester

The Dorset County Show runs from Saturday the 3rd to Sunday the 4th of September and promises a host of attractions including motorbike display teams, carriage driving, Titan the Robot and a cookery demonstration from Masterchef winner Mat Follas.

http://www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

Swanage Railway Grand Steam Gala
9th – 11th September, Railway Station Approach, Swanage, Dorset

Enjoy a weekend of glorious steam with all the engines in action, plus the vintage transport rally at Harman’s Cross. There will be an intensive steam-hauled train service between Norden ‘park and ride’, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage every 40 minutes between 10am and 6pm – including steam trains on the Friday and Saturday evenings until just before 11pm.

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/

Bennetts Water Gardens Wedding Fair & Bridal Show
18th September 10am to 4pm

Dorsets Premier Bridal Experience is taking place in the magical grounds of Bennetts Water Gardens under a huge marquee. The wedding exhibition is a must see event for those planning their marriage.

Brides and grooms-to-be will also have an opportunity to wander around these romantic water lily gardens, the perfect venue for weddings.

http://www.waterlily.co.uk/weddings/

Dream Cottages: Website updates and changes

Holiday cottages in dorset, cottage holidays dorset

Regular users of the dream cottages website will notice that we have implemented some changes to the appearance and usability of the site in the last two weeks. Always our key concern is making sure users can navigate and use the site effectively, so for that reason we have made the following adjustments:

Clearer Navigation – All property and booking links have been grouped into their own menu.

Area Guides – We have added area guides for Burton Bradstock, Dorchester, Swanage, West Bay and Weymouth along with a public transport travel information guide for Dorset.

Search by Area – The search by area map on the home page is now more interactive, allowing users to hover over the counties of Dorset, Somerset and Devon to show the three distinct area where we offer holiday cottages to let.

Availability Search – Visitors can now search by town or area on the home page.

Property Details Page – The main property details page has been amended so that when you hover over a thumbnail image it will change the main image accordingly. Additionally, all associated thumbnails for a property can now be displayed, rather than a small selection as was previously the case.

Weather Cam – There is a weather cam on the lower left hand side of the home page with links to live webcams in Weymouth, Portland and West Bay.

Regular updates will continue to be made to the site to help improve your browsing experience but if there is anything you feel the site would benefit from then please let us know via our contact page. We do read all comments and emails that are submitted to us.